Cosmetic Dermatologist

Leaving the house without make-up…a challenge that leads many women to suggest they’d rather chop their arm off than contemplate. But the reality of busy lives, whether it’s getting the kids to school on time or squeezing in a quick gym session before work, frequently necessitates being confident enough in our own skin to face the world sans slap. It’s also not such a bad idea to give ourselves a day off every so often, for the sake of skin health, as Jesse J and Kelly Brook demonstrated recently on Twitter.

The keys to looking great bare-faced are:

1) Skin radiance

2) Minimise under-eye problems

3) Banish blemishes

4) Killer brows

5) Well-moisturised lips

If these 5 things are in place, you’ll be able to project a clean, groomed kind of nude beauty that’s highly desirable and actually very youthful.

Steps 1 and 3 are best accomplished with morning application of AHAs and BHAs and night-time use of vitamin-A derivatives. Follow up with daily sunscreen all year-round. I like Obagi Exfoderm Forte, Tretinoin 0.1% and Sunshield SPF 50 on prescription, which I could not function in clinic without. Over-the-counter I love Medik8 Betagel, Retinol 40 Boost and Heliocare SPF 50 gel. Combine with a home-use dermaroller for extra impact and support with a non-comedogenic cleanser and moisturiser.

2) The under-eye area is a hard one to tackle without make-up, I fully admit. Dark circles are tricky. Sleep is critical. January is a good time to catch up on much-needed slumber as lots of people are cutting back on alcohol and hitting the gym. Keep salt to a minimum to reduce under-eye puffiness due to fluid retention. And utilize skin-care products containing high-potency vitamin C for hyperpigmentation and collagen production. I like Obagi Professional C serum 15% (again, a clinic staple of mine) and over-the-counter Skinceuticals Phloretin CF serum.

4) Brows frame the face. So important. A thicker brow looks right at the moment. So get professional input and have them threaded-Shavata Brow Studio fantastic.

5) Dry lips in winter are uniquitous-a supple, moisturized lip is crucial for a healthy appearance so keep them juicy and low-maintenance with regular lip balm usage and do not lick! Saliva irritates the delicate lip area, which naturally lacks sebaceous glands and Vitamin E, hence the lip’s tendency to age; this dries lips out, so break the cycle by being aware of your behaviour. I love Elizabeth Arden 8-hour Cream, which is now available in an unfragranced version.

So hopefully these simple steps take you a little closer to comfort in your own (glowing) skin….’bien dans sa peau’.